Pankaja Munde Is Getting A Lot Of Hate Online For These 'Drought Selfies' In Parched Latur

Pankaja Munde, Maharashtra's Minister for Rural Development and Water Conservation, has been accused of "gross insensitivity" after she posted a series of selfies on Twitter clicked in Latur, reeling under drought, during a weekend tour. Munde is seen smiling at the camera against a backdrop of acres of soil being turned by earth moving machines.

Although Munde, 36, accompanied the photos with texts about the work being done to conserve water, the photos triggered outrage online.

"BJP as a whole is a selfie and optics party, this is like making a mockery of the drought," India Today quoted a Congress spokesperson as saying. Latur has been reeling under severe drought. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said his government's first priority is to provide water for drinking. The CM said the situation in Marathwada region is grim. Water has even been supplied through trains to Latur.

Munde later took to Twitter to defend herself, saying the photos were clicked to show the work done by the government.

This pics are work done by govt n ppl participation it's my dept n I was working from day 1sence of satisfaction if it rains we are ready

Last year too, Munde was under fire after a member of her staff was seen carrying her slippers during a tour of the drought-affected regions in the state. During her visit to Sonpeth in Parbhani district, Munde took her slippers off seeing a muddy road ahead. While she walked bare-feet, a man picked up her slippers.